DR. ALVENIA FULTON * * * * ***** World Renown Nutritionist

DR. ALVENIA FULTON is a Wonderful Woman with Unlimited Knowlege for the People who Learned & Listened from Her! I was her Publicist & Friend and Experienced the Best of Life with Her! I miss her immensely!

But I was fortunate. I met a teacher in the "ancient tradition," Dr. Alvenia M. Fulton. I'll speak more of her later, but in this chapter I'll just testify! When I met her, Dr. Fulton was confident that she possessed the truth about food, nutrition and proper diet. But she knew I would have to experience that Truth for myself. I resisted every step of the way. Out of ignorance, I argued, rationalized, and repeated all the wrong notions about food I had been taught. Why? Because I just couldn't believe my momma would have fed meat if it was wrong, or given me cow's milk if it was wrong. And here was a stranger, a woman I had just met, telling me that my own momma had fed me wrong! My momma's main concern was that we kids got "somethin' to eat"

Every time I would come up with one of my stupid arguments, trying to refute what Dr. Fulton was telling me about some new way to change my diet, she would smile and say, "Just try it for me. Try it for a while and see what happens." I tried it, and invariably I liked it! I liked the fresh, pure tastes of natural foods; but even more important, I liked the glowing feeling of health, vigor and energy which followed my change in diet.

Natural Healer Alvenia Fulton

March 20, 1999|By Diane Struzzi, Tribune Staff Writer.

Chicago Tribune

Neighbors, friends and customers knew her as Dr. Alvenia Fulton, a woman who could soothe their ills with a cleansing mix of herbs and other natural ingredients. She touted the healing powers of raw foods, juices and fasting as the path to healthier living.

Her mixture of religious faith and natural remedies won her success in the South Side neighborhood, where she established her Fultonia Health and Fasting Institute at 1953 W. 63rd St. Over the years, she earned a reputation as a pioneer in the health food industry and a consultant to the stars.

"Her dedication to natural healing was the core of her being," said Mrs. Fulton's longtime friend, Elly Melton. "She recognized no color. She didn't care how much money you had. She just wanted you to do the things that would turn your health around."

Mrs. Fulton, 92, died March 5 at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago.

She was born on a farm in Pulaski, Tenn., and saw the practice of naturopathy firsthand, where roots and herbs picked from the woods would often be used to heal wounds or sicknesses, said Mrs. Fulton's nephew, Robin Brown.

But Mrs. Fulton focused early on religion, graduating from a seminary and becoming one of the first female members of the Northern Alabama Conference of the A.M.E. Church. She showed her leadership talent by becoming a pastor in three churches. It wasn't until she became ill with bleeding duodenal ulcers in 1954 that Mrs. Fulton reinvented herself as a pioneer in the benefit of better nutrition.

She refused medicine for her condition, instead taking a cabbage juice drink on the advice of a physician. The successful decision set her on a quest to learn as much as she could about natural remedies. She earned a doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from Lincoln College of Naturopathy in Indianapolis and a bevy of criticism from those who didn't believe in her methods.

The skepticism never deterred Mrs. Fulton, who earned a following of stars, including comedian Dick Gregory, who began consulting with her in 1967. Former basketball star Bill Walton was known to stop by her institute. And she consulted with Ben Vereen and Roberta Flack.

She scoffed at her detractors and continued to intrigue new customers with her products, such as the Colon and Body Cleanse, a powder and capsules that purified the body. She authored several books, including "The Fasting Primer" and a collaborative effort with Gregory called "Vegetarianism: Fact or Myth." She expounded on her holistic health-care remedies on her radio program called "The Joy of Living." And in 1992, a 9-block section of West 63rd Street was given the honorary designation Dr. Alvenia Fulton Drive.

"They all criticized me," she said in a 1990 interview. "They're not now. Either they're in a wheelchair or in a nursing home or walking with a walker. They're not like I am anymore."

She dedicated her life to helping others, said friends and family. She never turned anyone away and even into her 90s was working in her South Side shop. Before each mix she prepared, she consulted with God, Melton said.

"She absolutely was selfless, she didn't ever expect anything in return for what she did," Melton added. "She wanted all good things to be shared with the world. Her philosophy was to just be a person that made a difference in the world."

She is survived by a sister, Esther Moody; a grandchild and four great-grandchildren. A funeral was held March 11.

"Services were scheduled at JET press time for nationally-acclaimed nutritionist Dr. Alvenia Fulton who died in Chicago at Holy Cross Hospital. She was 92.

Known as the "Queen of Nutrition," she taught comedian-human rights activist Dick Gregory how to fast and diet in the 1960s. She and Gregory also collaborated on the book, Vegetarianism: Fact or Myth?

Born in Middle, TN, she was exposed to natural foods, herbs and cures of nature through the teachings of her father and mother, Richard and Mahala Moody.

The trailblazing nutritionist went on to become the first Black to open a health food store and a vegetarian restaurant in the Black community in the U.S. in the late 1950s.

She worked in her historic Chicago store, Fultonia Health and Fasting Institute, until she recently became ill, according to her nephew, Robin Brown, the chief of staff to Chicago Alderman Dorothy Tillman.

"She taught us that our health is determined by the foods we eat and the liquids we drink," said Brown. He added, "She was the first anywhere to recommend fasting as a means of cleansing the body and allowing the body to cleanse and to heal itself. She called it therapeutic healing."

Dr. Fulton is the author of two books, The Fasting Primer and The Nutrition Bible.

She earned an N.D. and Ph.D. from Lincoln College of Naturopathy and Natural Medicines in Indianapolis.

She also was the first woman to enter and graduate from Greater Payne Theological Seminary in Birmingham, AL, and went on to become a pastor of several churches, including St. Johns AM.E. in Louisville, KY, St. Stephens A.M.E. in Birmingham and St. Johns A.M.E. in Manhattan, KS." -- Jet, March 22, 1999

Natural Healer Alvenia Fulton

March 20, 1999|By Diane Struzzi, Tribune Staff Writer.

Neighbors, friends and customers knew her as Dr. Alvenia Fulton, a woman who could soothe their ills with a cleansing mix of herbs and other natural ingredients. She touted the healing powers of raw foods, juices and fasting as the path to healthier living.

Her mixture of religious faith and natural remedies won her success in the South Side neighborhood, where she established her Fultonia Health and Fasting Institute at 1953 W. 63rd St. Over the years, she earned a reputation as a pioneer in the health food industry and a consultant to the stars.

"Her dedication to natural healing was the core of her being," said Mrs. Fulton's longtime friend, Elly Melton. "She recognized no color. She didn't care how much money you had. She just wanted you to do the things that would turn your health around."

Mrs. Fulton, 92, died March 5 at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago.

She was born on a farm in Pulaski, Tenn., and saw the practice of naturopathy firsthand, where roots and herbs picked from the woods would often be used to heal wounds or sicknesses, said Mrs. Fulton's nephew, Robin Brown.

But Mrs. Fulton focused early on religion, graduating from a seminary and becoming one of the first female members of the Northern Alabama Conference of the A.M.E. Church. She showed her leadership talent by becoming a pastor in three churches. It wasn't until she became ill with bleeding duodenal ulcers in 1954 that Mrs. Fulton reinvented herself as a pioneer in the benefit of better nutrition.

She refused medicine for her condition, instead taking a cabbage juice drink on the advice of a physician. The successful decision set her on a quest to learn as much as she could about natural remedies. She earned a doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from Lincoln College of Naturopathy in Indianapolis and a bevy of criticism from those who didn't believe in her methods.

The skepticism never deterred Mrs. Fulton, who earned a following of stars, including comedian Dick Gregory, who began consulting with her in 1967. Former basketball star Bill Walton was known to stop by her institute. And she consulted with Ben Vereen and Roberta Flack.

She scoffed at her detractors and continued to intrigue new customers with her products, such as the Colon and Body Cleanse, a powder and capsules that purified the body. She authored several books, including "The Fasting Primer" and a collaborative effort with Gregory called "Vegetarianism: Fact or Myth." She expounded on her holistic health-care remedies on her radio program called "The Joy of Living." And in 1992, a 9-block section of West 63rd Street was given the honorary designation Dr. Alvenia Fulton Drive.

"They all criticized me," she said in a 1990 interview. "They're not now. Either they're in a wheelchair or in a nursing home or walking with a walker. They're not like I am anymore."

She dedicated her life to helping others, said friends and family. She never turned anyone away and even into her 90s was working in her South Side shop. Before each mix she prepared, she consulted with God, Melton said.

"She absolutely was selfless, she didn't ever expect anything in return for what she did," Melton added. "She wanted all good things to be shared with the world. Her philosophy was to just be a person that made a difference in the world."

She is survived by a sister, Esther Moody; a grandchild and four great-grandchildren. A funeral was held March 11.

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